View from San Jose: Yallop and Bernárdez discuss Earthquakes win over LA

CARSON, Calif. -- Thoughts from San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop and goal scorer Victor Bernández after LA was defeated 1-0 by the Earthquakes in the Western Conference Semifinal First Leg.

(On his club’s goals in stoppage time..)

YALLOP: “It just shows the spirit of the team. We have scored a lot of late goals. It was strike by Vic. Obviously Josh spills it a little bit, but I thought it was an even g. They had some good chances, obviously Robbie Keane hitting the bar and having a few things scattered across the 6-yard box that were dangerous. I thought for an away performance with a pretty banged up squad, we’re obviously very happy with the result.”

(On whether the foul that led to the free kick was legit…)

YALLOP: I’ll have to look on video. I didn’t think Landon’s was, but if he gives it, he gives it. It’s still 30 yards from goal. It wasn’t a penalty, or right on the edge, so you’ve got to give credit to Victor with a good strike on target and obviously a good goal for us. Again, we just talked in there. It’s halftime. It was an even game, they shaded on chances for sure, but we’re going home now. Hopefully we can lift ourselves and have a good performance, but again, it’s halftime and we’re just going to get rested and get ready for that game.”

(On if he would have been happy to get out 0-0…)

YALLOP: “I didn’t play for nil-nil. We didn’t play for a draw. Simon’s not trained for basically five weeks, and played a game last time against the Galaxy two weeks ago, and he’s still struggling. He’s not really ready. Ramiro has played very well, and I thought he played great today. If you play with two wingers against a team like the Galaxy, especially in this place, with a big field you can get carved up and taken apart. You’ve got to look at the quality on their team, for us to come away with a win is amazing. They have some very, very good players that played well tonight but didn’t quite get the chances to go in for them.”

(On how difficult the second leg will be…)

YALLOP: We’re one-up, It’s halftime, but 90 minutes of football is a long, long time. They’re one-nil down so they’re going to throw everything at us to try to get the equalizer and obviously try to go on and win. We know that. We’ve faced a lot of adversity all year, being the unfashionable, fouling, ugly team. But 72 goals ain’t bad for an ugly team. So I kind of get pissed off when I get my team is coached that it’s ugly and doesn’t play good football. For me, it’s about winning. And we’ve played plenty of good football around the box. Ask our fans, they love it.”

(On his team’s shots on goal…)

YALLOP: I’d say the whole team. Obviously they’re the last line, and Jon too, but if you look at the team defending, I thought it was excellent. I thought our work rate was great, we tired a little bit, and they came onto us, which when you go away from home, it’s just a natural thing. You tend to tire more for some reason, because you’ve traveled. But I thought they pushed on in the second half, a little bit unlucky not to score. But I think in general, to keep them off the shot chart for 60 minutes is pretty good.

(On the goal…)

Bernárdez: “I’m always looking to score when I take a free kick like that from distance, and I was fortunate to have God on my side tonight. We played a strong game and were looking forward to Wednesday night. They have a very good team, and we have to be humble when we play them and respect them, but were looking for a good game Wednesday.”

(On whether he was surprised about the goal…)

Bernárdez: “The important thing is it went in. That’s all that really matters. I lined up the free kick to try to get a goal, and that was the result we got.”